NRA Tactical Police Competition: Skill Stages Breakdown

by
posted on April 7, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
skill_tpc-1.jpg

The two stages outlined below are great representatives of what to expect at NRA Tactical Police Competition (TPC) matches. These competitions offer unique training opportunities for law enforcement officers and complement NRA Police Pistol Combat matches.

TPC competition with duty pistol
NRA Tactical Police Competition is open to law enforcement officers and members of the military using patrol duty gear.


TPC matches are comprised of separate courses of fire for stages, called courses. Courses may be handgun-only, rifle or shotgun-only, or other combinations of firearms. Additionally, the courses are either skills-based or scenario-based. The skills courses evaluate handling, accuracy and overall firearms proficiency, while the scenario-based ones present hypothetical encounters typical of what a law enforcement officer can see on the job.

NRA TPC Skill Courses
Skill-based courses in NRA TPC test skills with a firearm under preset conditions.


These skill-course examples are both from the 2017 Fairfax TPC Competition, held last summer in Fairfax, VA.

Skill Course 1: Duty Rifle Skill Check

NRA Tactical Police Competition | Duty Rifle Skill Check
Targets: Three steel, 11 TP-1, and four TP-2
Firearms and rounds: Duty Rifle, 33 rounds

This stage has competitors start with their Duty Rifle loaded to cruiser safe (safety on, bolt closed on empty chamber with loaded magazine). Shooters start with their heels placed on the start line, and the rifle is held in the support hand by the forearm, with the muzzle downrange and the barrel parallel to the ground. On the start signal, competitors enter Firing Area 1, and engage targets and threat targets.

Duty Rifle Skills Check
Moving on to Firing Area 2, competitors engage multiple threat targets, then stomp on a box activator prior to engaging target 10 and continue engaging threat targets. For Firing Area 3 and 4, there are more threat targets are fired on. There are a total of 18 targets for the stage.

Skill Course 2: Clays are Always Better with Some Steel

NRA Tactical Police Competition | Clays are Always Better with Some Steel
Targets: Six clay, eight steel
Firearms and rounds: Duty Shotgun, seven birdshot rounds; Duty Handgun, seven rounds

This stage begins with competitors having a holstered, loaded handgun and Duty Shotgun with safety on, at the shoulder ready, with the magazine tube cap resting on the Start Post. At the start signal, with the Duty Shotgun engage threat steel and clay targets. For the first target there is a first shot time requirement of 1.5 seconds. Miss this requirement, and the actual fired first shot time is added as a penalty.

Clays are Always Better with Some Steel
Shooters then move through the Firing Area engaging multiple clay threat targets by firing under the visual barrier in front of each one. When complete, the Duty Shotgun is set in the barrel (muzzle down with safety on) and transition to the Duty Handgun. Shooters then move back through the firing area engaging the remaining threat steel targets. There are a total of 14 targets for the stage.

For more information on NRA Tactical Police Competitions, please visit lecompetitions.nra.org/tactical-police-competition or email [email protected]

Latest

Hampdensydney Slatehill 2
Hampdensydney Slatehill 2

Hampden-Sydney College Marks a New Era With Slate Hill Shooting Sports Academy Dedication

Hampden-Sydney College opens new Shooting Sports Academy at historic Slate Hill in Virginia, uniting campus history with competitive shooting sports.

What’s In Your Range Bag, Connor Daniel?

Junior world champion Connor Daniel reveals the gear and preparation supporting his rapid rise in Sporting Clays and FITASC competition.

SK Customs Unveils Mayan Empire Series

SK Customs’ new Mayan Empire Colt 1911s chambered in .38 Super blend precision guncraft with the legacy of the ancient Mayan civilization.

Collegiate Rifle: Akron Continues Hot Streak With 4692 Win Over Mount Aloysius College

Akron posts a 4692 win over Mount Aloysius behind career-best performances from Siek and Moran in smallbore and air rifle.

2025 Holiday Gift Guide: Optics & Gear

Explore the best new optics and gear of 2025 in this holiday guide for serious competitive shooters.

SSSF Top Guns Bring Heat to 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship

SSSF’s rising shooters deliver breakout performances at their first NRA World Shooting Championship, showing poise and marksmanship skill.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.